Stitch cam adjustment and indicator means



L w P 2 I M 5 I w m .m A. mm m F P. HQ 4 6 i m Q Leonard A. Beckensteinfiw 111 4 ATTORNEY June 4, 1968 L. A. BECKENSTEIN STITCH CAM ADJUSTMENTAND INDICATOR MEANS Filed Nov. 1, 1965 WITNESS way, 56/45664 UnitedStates Patent 3,386,268 STITCH CAM ADJUSTMENT AND INDICATOR MEANSLeonard A. Beckenstein, Farmingdale, N.Y., assignor to The SingerCompany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 1, 1965,Ser. No. 505,853 4 Claims. (Cl. 66-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREApparatus for accurately indicating the setting of a knitting machinecam is disclosed as utilizing a position able cam post provided with apair of acutely cut notches, one thereof accommodating the end of anadjustment screw, and the other accommodating the push rod of anindicator.

This invention relates in general to knitting machines and in particularto cam adjusting apparatus therefor.

The invention provides apparatus for indicating precisely the setting ofa knitting machine earn, the degree of accuracy of such indication beingdetermined and limited solely by the accuracy of the indication meansitself. In a presently preferred form of the invention as may beincluded in a circular knitting machine, indicators so cooperate withrespective earns that adjustability of such cams is enhanced.

The need for indicators for determinin the settings 'of knitting machinecams is well established. See, for example, United States Patent No.3,123,991, Mar. 10, 1964. Prior practice for providing such indicationsfalls into two categories. In the first category, an adjustable elementsuch as a screw having indicia thereon directly positions the cam, and acam-set reading is taken by comparing said indicia with respect to areference. In the second category an adjustable screw directly positionssimultaneously both the cam and the input member of an indicator, havinga movement, whereby such indicator reflects the setting of the cam sinceboth the cam and the indicator are driven by the same element. Thedisadvantage to both these techniques is that oftentimes the cams inquestion do not follow their respective positioning screws (whereas theindications may follow the screws), with the result being that suchindications are too coarse, and either, or both, low quality knittedcloth results or the setting-up for knitting is difficult and timeconsuming. The invention adopts a modification of the second of theabove prior art techniques, and in so doing provides camset indicationswhich are virtually faultless.

Rather than give the cam-set adjusting screw the twofold purposes ofdirectly driving both the cam and its related indicator, the presentinvention employs the adjusting screw solely to adjust the position ofthe cam, and (as opposed to the prior art) uses the cam to operate theindicator. In this way, the indication is forced to reflect truly thesetting of the cam, being limited in accuracy only by the accuracy ofthe indicator itself.

In more detail, the invention, as may be employed in a circular knittingmachine, provides an adjustable cam and indicator combination whereineach cam of the machine is supported on a respective post that isadapted to be slidably positioned within a slot in a respective camsection. The post is provided with a pair of notches, each of whichpresents an inclined face to a respective abutting member. The firstabutting member constitutes the cam adjusting screw which, when urgedagainst the inclined face of its respective notch, causes the camsupporting piece, i.e. the post, to be slidably positioned within itsslot, whereby it positions the cam. The second abutting "ice member is aspring loaded push rod that forms part of and operates a dial-typeindicator. Since both abutting members exert countertorques on the camsupporting piece about an axis that passes between the notches, thetendency of the cam supporting piece to rotate and bind within its slotlike a wedge is minimal, and attendantly the post is relatively freelymovable translationally in its slot, and adjustment thereof isrelatively easy.

A principal object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus forindicating the setting of a cam as may be employed in a knittingmachine.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for indicatingwith high precision the setting of a cam as may be employed in aknitting machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus that employs aknitting machine cam to indicate its own setting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a camindicator combinationwherein the cam is easily adjusted, and wherein the indicator assists toafford such easy adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with theadjustable cams of a circular knitting machine respective indicators forindicating directly the settings of those cams.

The invention will be described with reference to the figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively front and rear elevational views 'of acam section embodying the invention,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, that is useful inunderstanding the details of'construction of an indicator actuationscheme which is according to the invention, and which may be employed ina circular knitting machine,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the cam section of FIGS. 1 and 2 takenalong lines 4-4 thereof, and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of a circular knittingmachine depicting the arrangement of parts thereof with which theapparatus of the invention cooperates.

Referring now to the figures, a circular knitting machine has camsections 14 that support respective stitch and raising cams 10 and 12.Each stitch cam 10 is provided with a flange 16 that is adapted to seatwithin a longitudinal slot 18 in a generally cylindrical piece or post20. The cams 1t) rigidly secure to their respective cylindrical posts 20by means of respective screws 22, and the posts 20 are slidablypositionable within respective generally cylindrical channels 24provided within the cam sections 14. The raising cams 12 rigidly secureto their respective cam sections 14 by means of screws 26, and are notrelatively positionable with respect to such sections.

Cut into each stitch cam supporting post 20 are a pair of notches 28 and30 which provide inclined faces 32 and 34, the face 3-2 for use inindicating the depth of stitch setting, and the face 34 for varying suchsetting. Stitch depth adjusting screws 36 are threaded into respectivecam sections 14, and are each provided with a tapered tip 40 that isadapted to bear against a respective notch face 34. The posts 20, withtheir respective attached stitch cams 10 are axially urged upward intocontact with the tips 40 of respective stitch depth adjusting screws 36by means of respective compression springs 42 that seat within recesses44 in the cam sections 14. Since each cam 10', when assembled with arespective post 20, forms an integral unit with such post, directmovement of this post is the full equivalent of direct movement of thecam. The tension in the springs 42 is maintained by means of screws 46that secure a plate 47 to the section 14. Respective compression springs48 for exerting axial forces on the screws 36 seat within recesses 50and serve to lock the screws 36, once set, in place. By adjusting ascrew 36 so as to compress its respective springs 48, the screw tip asbears against the concerned notch face 34 to urge the respective post 20downward, whereby the spring 42 further compresses, and whereby a deepsetting of the stitch cam 13 is had; by adjusting the screw 36 torelieve ension in the spring 48, the reverse occurs.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 4, a dial indicator 52 for use indetermining the setting of the cam 10 has a movement with a push rod 54that is supported in a journal 55, such push rod 54 being adapted tobear against the face 32 of the notch 23. Secured to the free end of thepush rod 54 is a pin 56 to which is secured the end 57 of a coil spring59. The other end of the spring 59 is anchored by means of a screw 61 tothe back of the indicator 52; and the pin 56 cooperates with a wormdrive 62 that is rotatably supported both in a journal 63 and in anaperture 65 in a face member 67. The push rod 54 is restrain d fromrotating about its own longitudinal axis by means of a pair of members58 that define a slot in which the pin 56 may move. The face member 67is provided with cam-set representative indicia, and a pointer 60 issupported by the worm drive 62 and rotatably positionable thereby withrespect to the indicia on the indicator face member 67. A lens 69 coversthe face member 67 of the indicator 52.

A push on the rod 54 to the left (looking at FIG. 4), as may result fromlowering the depth of the cam 10, has the effect of causing the pointer60 to rotate with respect to a neutral location on the face member 67,whereby the spring 59 stretches; raising the depth of the cam 10 has theeffect of returning the pointer to its neutral location and releasingthe tension in the spring 59. Since the indicator push rod 3 is indirect contact with the post 20 that rigidly supports the cam Iii), thecam-set reading provided by the indicator is as accurate as theindicator itself; and whether the screw 36 is effective in positioningthe cam is irrelevant as far as the accuracy of the cam-set indicationis concerned. This is to say that when slop or stickiness etc. cause thepost 2% and its supported cam to sit at one location with respect to thecam section 14 even while the screw 3-6 is being turned, the indicatorpointer likewise sits at one location with respect to the indicia on itsface 67; and only when the cam gets positioned does the indicatorpointer 60 accordingly position to reflect the cam setting.

As above noted, the indicator 52 works to provide smooth adjustabilityof the cam 10 by working to prevent the post 20 from binding within itschannel 24. This feature is brought about by the fact that while thescrew 36, in cooperation with the spring 32, works to exert acounterclockwise torque on the post 20 (looking at FIG. 4), the push rod5 and its cooperating spring 59 work to exert a proportionate clockwisetorque on the piece 20, whereby non-binding movement of the post 20 isurged to be translationally along the length of the channel 24.

Referring now to P16. 5, a circular knitting machine that includes thecam-set indication means of the invention has a cylinder 70 which isfixedly secured (by means of screws 71) to a ring gear 72, which in turnis rotatably driven by a gear drive 74. The gear drive 74 is supportedby a stationary leg member 76 that fixedly supports an outer ring member8%. A cam retaining ring 82 bolts to the outer ring 80 by means ofscrews 84; and the outer ring 80 and the cam retaining ring 82 togetherform a raceway 86 to accommodate a flange bearing 88 on the ring gear72. The cam sections 14 bolt to the stationary cam retaining ring 82 bymeans of screws 90, and as is known the rotatable cylinder 70 isprovided with slots 92 for respectively slidably housing therein latchneedles 94. Hence, the needles 94 are rotatably carried by the cylinder70 with respect to the stationary cam sections 14.

In this embodiment of the invention each needle 94 has a pair of spacedapart butts 96, 93 which provide a female part 100 that is adapted toaccommodate the stitch and raising earns 10, 12 as male members forsuccessively lowering and raising the needles. Depending on the settingof each of the cams 10, as indicated by each of the indicators 52, thecourse of travel for the needles is determined. The needles 94,travelling in their respective cylinder slots 92 past yarn feed stations102, knit with yarn fed to the needle hooks 104 by a yarn carrier 106.The yarn carrier 166 is held stationary by means of a carrier ring 108that is itself held fixedly to a sinker cam ring 119 by means of a screw112. The sinker cam ring 119 couples to the stationary outer ring 8% bymeans not shown.

Cooperating with the needles are sinkers 114 which, like the needles 94,slidably ride in slots in a sinker rest ring 116. The sinker rest ring116 is fixedly held to the cylinder 70, and is rotatable with thecylinder 70. Hence the needles 94 and their cooperating sinkers 114 haverotational phases that are relatively fixed with respect to each otherand therefore they rotate in unison during the generation of cloth 118.To and from movement of the sinkers 114 in their respective slots isafforded by sinker cams 124? that fixedly secure to the sinker cam ringby means of screws 122, and ride as male members within female notches124 in the sinkers 114.

While the invention has been described in its presently preferredembodiments, it is to be understood that the words which have been usedare Words of description rather than of limitation and that changeswithin the purview of the appended claims may be made without departingfrom the true scope and spirit of the invention. For example it is wellwithin the scope of the invention to employ the instant cam-setindication scheme with a double raceway knitting machine, whetheremploying cams as illustrated herein or conventional cams.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimedherein is:

1. Apparatus for use in indicating the setting of a knitting machine camcomprising section means having a slot therein, elongated meanspositionable in said slot and adapted to support rigidly said cam, saidelongated means being provided with first and second notches each havinga face that is cut at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinalaxis of said elongated means, means abutting said face of said firstnotch for urging said elongated means along said slot, an indicatorhaving a spring loaded movement and an actuating push rod in cooperationtherewith, said rod being adapted to abut so against said face of saidsecond notch that the push rod of said indicator counterurges saidelongated means along said slot.

2. Apparatus for use in indicating the setting of a knitting machine camcomprising section means having a slot therein, elongated meanspositionable in said slot and adapted to support rigidly said cam, saidelongated means being provided with first and second notches each havinga face that is cut at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinalaxis of said elongated means, means abutting said face of said firstnotch for urging said elongated means along said slot for varying thesetting of said cam, dial indicator means comprising a push rodsupported thereby, a worm drive operable with said push rod, a pointermovable by said drive, resilient means for urging said push rod towardthe exterior of said indicator means, and means for so supporting saidindicator means that said push rod abuts against said face of saidsecond notch in a way that places said resilient means under increasingtension when said cam is provided with an increasingly deep setting.

3. Apparatus for use by a circular knitting machine of the independentneedle type having a plurality of cams for regulating the course oftravel of a plurality of needles thereof comprising a plurality of camsections each provided with a sleeve having an elongated opening alongits length, respective elongated cam support pieces positionable withinsaid sleeves, means securing said cams to respective cam support piecesthrough said elongated openings in respective cam sections, said camsupport pieces being each provided with first and second notches, saidnotches each having a face cut at an acute angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of its respective support piece, adjustable means foreach of said cam support pieces abutting said face of said first notchfor urging said support piece along its sleeve, indicators cooperatingwith respective support pieces, and each indicator having a springloaded movement and an actuating push rod in cooperation with themovement, said rod of each indicator being adapted to abut so againstsaid face of said second notch of its respective cam support piece thatsaid rod counter-urges its respective support piece against the urgingof its respetcive adjustable means.

4. Apparatus for use by a circular knitting machine of the independentneedle type having a plurality of cams for regulating the course oftravel of a plurality of needles thereof comprising a plurality of camsections each provided with a sleeve having an elongated opening alongits length, respective elongated cam support pieces positionable withinsaid sleeves, means securing said cams to respective cam support piecesthrough said elongated openings in respective cam sections, said camsupport pieces being each provided with first and second notches, saidnotches each having a face cut at an acute angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of its respective support pieces, adjustable means foreach of said cam support pieces abutting said face of said first notchfor urging said support piece along its sleeve, dial indicatorscooperating with respective support pieces, and each indicator having apush rod supported thereby, a Worm drive operable with said push rod, apointer movable by said drive, resilient means for urging said push rodtoward the exterior of said indicator means, and means for so supportingsaid indicator that said push rod abuts against said face of said secondnotch of its respective cam support piece in a way that places saidresilient means under increasing tension when its respective cam isprovided with an increasingly deep setting.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 172,989 2/1876 Franz 66542,573,782 11/1951 Zeruneith 6657 XR 2,941,383 6/1960 Mishcon 66543,013,418 12/1961 Hill 6657 3,076,327 2/1963 Coile 6654 3,068,67412/1962 Bittler 6654 3,123,991 3/1964 Schmidt 6654 FOREIGN PATENTS547,522 9/1956 Italy. 366,623 2/ 1963 Switzerland.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Acting Primary Examiner.

RONALD FELDBAUM, Examiner.

